Category: Snippets

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — An Important Safety Note: As are approaching Spring slash-burning season, I assume that some of your slash piles are still fairly wet. Please don’t be tempted to use anything more flammable than diesel fuel, as “woof” for fire-starting. DO NOT EVER use gasoline! – JWR o  o  o The recent presidential address …

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Reader Tim J. spotted this fascinating video, filmed in eastern Washington: Special Operations vet commutes by Flying Car from rural off-grid home. Here is a link to the ultralight maker’s website: Pivotal.  JWR’s Comment: Sadly, if heavier batteries are installed to allow longer range, this shifts this novel aircraft from the unlicensed …

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Our Editor-At-Large Michael Z. Williamson mentioned some “less lethal” solid aluminum projectiles for paintball guns. He notes: “They are also available less expensively on Amazon, but this way you support a smaller business.” o  o  o Mike Williamson also mentioned: “The UK has demanded access to the Apple Cloud, and Apple has …

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — The hollow-point ban: New Jersey bans safe, effective ammunition.  JWR’s Comments:  The illogic of this legislation is stupendous. New Jersey is largely urbanized, with a high population density, overall. So why are they banning ammo with expanding bullets that rarely penetrate residential and business walls, in favor of FMJ bullets that can …

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Will North Carolina Be The 30th Constitutional Carry State? o  o  o A recent purchaser of one of our waterproof 2005-2024 blog archive USB sticks wrote to ask about what appeared to be inconsistent access to the “Index” page and to the library of bonus books.  I sent him this explanation: The …

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — A paper published by ScienceAdvances: Microplastics in the bloodstream can induce cerebral thrombosis by causing cell obstruction and lead to neurobehavioral abnormalities. JWR’s Comments: It was not until centuries later that one of the key contributing factors to the fall of the Roman Empire was identified as their extensive use of lead …

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — This article was posted back in December: Costco now has truncated book sections at only 100 of their 600 stores. JWR’s Comment:  The good old days of book shopping at Costco (as pictured above), are over. I suppose this change explains why Costco did not place a repeat order for my book …

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Reader C.B. recommended this well-reasoned article by prolific gun and preparedness writer Duncan Long (pictured, in a self-portrait from his younger days):  Backpack Fever. JWR’s Comments: This article was written in 1989, but it is still quite relevant. I still hear the same fantasy “survival” plans espoused in e-mails from some of …

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Reader D.S.V. was the first of several to mention this news: Boebert Introduces Legislation To Abolish The ATF. o  o  o La Niña has arrived. Here’s what that means.  (Thanks to reader C.B. for the link.) o  o  o Reader Rick V. wrote: “I’ve been reading Thucydides on the Peloponnesian War. The …

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Mike in Alaska wrote: “The local climate here is our version of a freezer and refrigerator solution. I took the photo above on my way to work this morning … and it is now dropping even further. We are expecting -45 F this coming weekend. In the summer (June, July, and half …

This weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Have you heard that the best-selling 1949 survivalist novel Earth Abides finally became a television miniseries?  All of the episodes are now available over at MGM+ and at the computer virus-plagued www.lookmovie2.to. The script writers and producers took some considerable liberties with the storyline, but at least the novel’s basic premise is …

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — A new video from Ian McCollum: SIG P320 Flux Legion / Flux Raider: The Best Pistol-PDW System Yet. o  o  o Congo says mystery disease behind dozens of deaths of women and children finally identified as severe malaria. JWR’s Comment: When I first heard about this new disease outbreak, it reminded me …

Our weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Jordan Peterson Flees “Totalitarian Hellhole” Canada For U.S. Due To Censorship, Taxes. The  article begins: “There were a number of celebrities claiming they’d move to Canada if President Trump was re-elected, but now there’s one Canadian who’s doing the opposite. World famous psychologist Jordan Peterson has said Canada is turning into a “totalitarian …

This weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Peter in Washington wrote: “A reminder that HB 2118 takes effect on July 1, 2025 in Washington State.  Here is the key part of the bill, Section 1 (3) from the final language: No dealer may sell or otherwise transfer, or expose for sale or transfer, or have in his or her …

This weekly Snippets column is a collection of short items: responses to posted articles, practical self-sufficiency items, how-tos, lessons learned, tips and tricks, and news items — both from readers and from SurvivalBlog’s editors. Note that we may select some long e-mails for posting as separate letters. — Reader Michael R. sent this technology tip: “Here is the ‘Radioactivity Counter’ app on an old Tab A tablet just now, without and with a sample radioactive rock. Clunky and very slow but similar results to the GBC800 Geiger counter that I received from Amazon, yesterday. But the sample should be near …